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HDMI cables are becoming increasingly important in any home theater setup, and the best intersection of quality and price is the AmazonBasics HDMI cable.

HDMI cables are an important part of any home theater or home office set up. Not only can they connect your computer to your TV or external monitor, but they can also be pretty useful if you game with a console, own a streaming box, and so on.

You might not be aware, however, that not all HDMI cables are equal. There are a few different HDMI standards, and cable quality can have a big effect on how long the cable ends up lasting.

Contrary to popular belief, HDMI cables don't really have version numbers — their connectors do. That's to say, while your TV may have HDMI 2.1 connectors, the actual cable that runs between them doesn't.

There are four types of HDMI cables: high speed with or without Ethernet and standard speed with or without Ethernet. The vast majority of HDMI cables are high-speed with Ethernet.

The other main thing to consider is how long of a cable you need. If you're running a cable from your PS4 to your TV, shorter 3-foot cables might be long enough, but if you have a cable management system or a longer distance to cover, you'll want to get a longer cable.

The best HDMI cable overall

AmazonBasics

Why you'll love it: The AmazonBasics HDMI cable is inexpensive, available in a range of different sizes, and supports the vast majority of modern devices.

If you're looking for a standard, run-of-the-mill HDMI cable that should serve you perfectly in 99% of situations, then we think the best choice is the AmazonBasics HDMI cable. Why? It's inexpensive, high quality, and will do the job perfectly for most situations.

It's is a high-speed HDMI cable with Ethernet, so it'll support a shared internet connection without the need for a separate cable. It also supports all modern HDMI standards, so whether you're connecting a 1,080p TV to a cable box or a PlayStation 4 Pro to a 4K TV, it will work just fine.

One of the things we liked most about this cable is that it's cheap and available in a range of sizes. You can get the super short 3-foot cable for $5.99, or upgrade to longer ones, including a 50-foot cable, for more money.

Most other experts and buyer seem to like the cable, too. The Wirecutter also awarded it the top spot on its guide, and the cable has an average rating of 4.6 stars on Amazon.

Pros: Inexpensive, various lengths, works with any device that has an HDMI port

The best long HDMI cable

Generally speaking, HDMI cables are just pipes for sending data, but they tend to degrade a little over long distances, especially when they're lower-quality cables. If you're hoping to transmit a signal over longer distances, then you may need slightly higher-quality cables like the Monoprice Active Select Series HDMI cable.

The cable is able to transmit data more efficiently over longer distances because it has its own chips built in the connectors. It's also available in a range of distances and supports high-speed data transfer with Ethernet.

No matter which length of cable you need, Monoprice should have you covered. The cable starts at 15 feet but ranges all the way up to 60 feet. The trade-off? It's a little more expensive than the other cables in our guide.

The best HDMI cable under $5

Rankie

Why you'll love it: The Rankie HDMI cable may not be the fanciest one, but it costs less than $5.

A cable is a cable right? Well, not exactly, but if you simply want an HDMI cable, and don't need the extra bells and whistles, then the Rankie HDMI cable may be the cable to get. Why? Well, it costs less than $5.

The cable's connectors are a little bulky and the cable isn't exactly braided nylon, but when it comes to specs, it looks to be a pretty solid option for most uses. The cable has Ethernet and a high-speed connection, so it'll work for almost all situations.

It's 6-feet long, though you can get it in 10-foot, 15-foot, and 25-foot lengths, too, for a bit more money. We recommend sticking with the shorter cables, though, and if you do want a longer cable, try the Monoprice cable in the previous slide.

Those who have bought the cable seem to like it, too. It has a 4.8-star average on Amazon.

The best strong HDMI cable

Why you'll love it: The SecurOMax HDMI cable is super strong, so you don't have to worry about fraying cables.

Many of the HDMI cables on this list are fine for most users, but sometimes you might want something a little stronger. The SecurOMax HDMI cables are strong and built to last.

Now, to be clear, a strong HDMI cable won't perform any better than a so-called "weak" one. It may last a little longer, though. The Monster 28AWG Braided HDMI cable is a high-speed HDMI cable with Ethernet, and it should be perfect for pretty much all situations.

The cable is available in a few different lengths, too. The standard length is 3-foot, but you can also go for a 6-foot version of the cable if you so choose. It's also pretty highly-reviewed on Amazon with an average of 4.7-stars.

The best angled HDMI cable

UGREEN

Why you'll love it: The UGreen 90-degree HDMI cable is high-speed and offers Ethernet, but the real reason to buy it is that the cable is angled.

All of the HDMI cables in our guide will do the job perfectly fine, but sometimes in your home theater setup, you need an angled cable to make for a cleaner look. That's where the UGreen 90-degree HDMI cable comes in.

Like many of the other cables in our guide, it comes in a few different sizes, including 3-foot, 6-foot, and 10-foot options. They're not too expensive, either. The 3-foot version costs only $6.99, which isn't bad at all. The cable is high-speed, and it supports Ethernet, too.

Of course, the main reason to buy the cable is the angled connector, which may help you get a much cleaner look to your setup. For example, instead of having a straight cable extending out the side of the TV, you could have an angled cable that doesn't have to be seen at all.

Most buyers like the cable, too, and it has a 4.5-star average on Amazon.

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